Chapter 5: Deception

"What's this?" Conan inspected the envelope filled with files, discs, and flash drives.

Amuro smiled. "It's everything. Everything we need to take them down."

Conan looked up in disbelief, to which Amuro nodded back, confirming that yes, he DID hear right.

"How-"

"Kir left it for you guys at the coin lockers, but the syndicate thinks it's been destroyed."

Conan clutched the envelope in his hands. "Rena-san…"

"But first," Amuro snatched it back from his hands. "There's something I'd like in return."

"Why do we have to give you anything?" Haibara intervened. "She left it for us, after all."

Amuro put the envelope back in his bag. "I see… Well, I'll just turn this in to my superiors instead. But all evidence retrieved will be in their custody, and by the looks of it…" Amuro eyed the kids up and down. "You need information on that drug."

"Your superiors?"

"The secret police." Conan looked up. "Right?"

Amuro smirked. "You got it. So what do you say?" He kneeled down to his level. "This." He patted his bag. "For the whereabouts of Akai Shuichi."

"Eh?" Conan blinked. "Wha-"

"I know you guys are working together. Just tell me where he is, that's all."

"What's so important about him?" Haibara asked with a hint of suspicion. "To give us this just for meeting him…"

"Oh? He should matter to you as well."

"What do you mea-"

"Amuro-san!" Conan yelled. "Er, about that deal…"

"Yes?" His eyes gleamed.

"Well, I don't think I could help you…" He lied, of course. He couldn't just blurt out that Akai was right next door, especially in front of Haibara. "I'm not so sure myself…"

Amuro narrowed his eyes. "What a shame." He stood up, heading for the door. "If you ever 'remember', though." He said sarcastically. "Just call me." He looked at Haibara. "See you later, Ai-chan." He waved, emphasizing her name.

The door quietly shut, and Conan let out a heavy sigh, while Haibara angrily tugged at his sleeve.

"What the hell was that?!" She spat out. "And didn't that agent die or something? Why he should matter, you interrupted before he could say!"

'Well, that was the point…' Conan thought. "Uh, sorry, I got a little excited." He laughed nervously. "But aren't you glad? The syndicate is finally-"

"Are you stupid or something?!" She said, making him take a step back. "How do we know that stuff he showed us is even real?"

"I don't think he would-"

She scoffed. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious." He said. "Everything will be fine, I trust him."

"Just like you trust him?" She motioned her head to the house next door.

"For the last time, Subaru-san is a good person!"

"And?" She ignored his last comment. "You think we'll just stroll on over and arrest them? No one will get hurt, you'll turn back into Kudo Shinichi and just like that happily ever after?" She rolled her eyes. "Wake up, Kudo. I know these people, and they won't go down without a fight."

"So let's fight them!" It was his turn to raise his voice. "They won't get away with this, I won't allow it." She turned away as he put a hand on her shoulder. "If you can't trust them, at least trust me."

She eyes widened and closed, smiling. "You always did have to play the hero, didn't you?"

"Eh?"

"I'm going downstairs. We want to turn you back as soon as possible don't we? And it looks like I'll be getting some new material…"

He watched as she left, raising an eyebrow.

"Shinichi…" Agasa looked down at him. "Is it really over?"

Conan grinned. "Don't worry, I'm sure things will be fine."

…

Haibara was at her desk, typing away at the keyboard. 'Will it ever end? It all feels so hopeless, but somehow you still manage to make it it feel like everything will be okay…' She smiled. "Thank you, Kudo-kun." Haibara stretched her arms before getting back to work. 'I'll have to repay you the only way I know how.'

"Ah, Ran-chan!" Sera waved.

"Hey, Sera...san…" Ran gazed at the figure next to them.

"Geh, what's this brat doing here?" Kogoro said as he walked up to Eisuke.

"I came back for a visit!" He grinned eagerly.

"Well, long time no see I guess..." Kogoro yawned as he absently walked into his office.

"Speaking of long time no see…" Sonoko squinted at Ran. "Been a while since your husband's called. Hmph, maybe Eisuke will snatch you up while he's gone, I'm sure Kudo would come running if he heard that!"

"Geez, Sonoko..." Ran sighed. "Quit teasing. Sorry about that Eisuke-kun."

"Eh, ah no worries!" He chuckled as he thought about the pint-sized detective. "So where's Conan-kun?"

"He's at the professor's house."

"Looks like the two of you like that brat more than us!" Sonoko stared at Sera and Eisuke.

"Of course not, you guys are the best! I was just wondering." Eisuke laughed.

"You a fan of Conan-kun's as well?" Sera joked.

"Well, something like that... but no one can beat Mouri-san, right?"

"Oh, that old geezer?" Sera and Eisuke chuckled.

"You two seem pretty well acquainted." Ran smiled.

"Well, he does remind me of someone, after all…" Sera said, thinking about her second brother.

"Who?" Eisuke asked curiously.

"Eh, uhh..." Sera scrambled for an answer.

"Oh! Mizunashi Rena, right?" Sonoko suggested.

"Eh?"

"Ah, yeah, I get that a lot…" Eisuke rubbed his head.

"It's a shame what happened to her, though." Ran looked down.

"Mm, I heard about the accident on the news." Sera nodded.

Eisuke blinked. "What are you guys talking about?" He asked with a catch in his throat.

"Oh… recently, Rena-san passed away." Ran said sullenly.

"Are you sure?" Eisuke asked without hesitation.

"Well, yeah…" Ran stepped back a bit. "Are you okay, Eisuke-kun?"

'No way… they must've just faked her death or something..' Eisuke tried his best to keep his composure.

"Hey, let's not get all gloomy!" Sera perked up. "There's still time before dinner. You guys wanna hang out?"

"Sure, how about you, Eisuke?" Ran turned towards the boy. "Eisuke?"

"Sorry, but…" He stumbled away from the group. "I'm pretty tired, I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?" Eisuke said as he cheerfully waved goodbye before quickly turning his back, hiding a deep frown.

"Oh, okay…"

"See you tomorrow!" Sonoko wave back.

Eisuke didn't respond, he just kept walking away.

"Let's get going. You coming, Sera-chan?"

Sera carefully examined the boy as he left.

"Sera-chan?"

"Yeah… coming." Sera said as she joined her friends.

Eisuke held his phone before angrily stuffed it back in his pocket, walking to the professor's house to get some answers. He wanted to speak to Kudo face to face.

"Ah, excuse me…" A light-haired man said as he bumped into Eisuke, who just kept walking without so much as looking up.

Amuro shrugged, running off to make his shift at Poirot.

Eisuke slowly stopped walking, standing in front of a large western-style house that was next door. His eyes widened as he took notice of the nameplate.

"Kudo Shinichi…" He looked up, noticing the curtain in the window move slightly. After shifting between the two houses, he rang the doorbell in hopes of finding the shrunken detective. "Hello? I know you're home! Just answer me, please…" Eisuke began to ring the bell more furiously before a man came to the door.

"...Who are you?" Eisuke stared at the unfamiliar face in front of him, who stared back with an expression he couldn't quite place. Shock? Guilt? Eisuke couldn't help but feel even more frustrated.

"Is it true?!" He spat out, not explaining what "it" was.

Mary took out a wrinkled photograph, looking at it with great nostalgia. It was a photo of two teens, both with distinctive eyes.

"I'm sorry, sis…" She whispered. 'Ethan's gone, and now Hidemi too…' Mary looked out the window with great determination. 'But don't worry, I'll keep Eisuke safe. I'll protect your son, my nephew…'

Subaru took a step forward, putting a hand on Eisuke's shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

Eisuke finally gave in to the tears. Standing helplessly in front of the man, he let out a strangled voice.

"Hidemi…"

Wow, so long since I last updated! Hope you liked this this chapter.

Reviews are very much appreciated :)